David Moyes has revealed it was Sir Alex Ferguson who told him that he was going to succeed his fellow Scot as Manchester United manager.

Speaking at his first news conference in charge at Old Trafford, Moyes joked that he was essentially given no choice in the matter.

"It was a really strange situation for me," he explained. "I had no idea whatsoever. I knew nothing at all about it until Sir Alex gave me a call and asked me to come to his house.

"I was expecting him to tell me he was going to take one of my players, but the first thing he told me was that he was retiring. I said, 'Yeah, when?' He was never going to retire. But he said, 'Next week'.

"His next words were, 'And you're the next Manchester United manager'.

"So I didn't get a chance to say yes or no, I was told I was the next Manchester United manager by Sir Alex, so for me that was enough. I was shocked but also incredibly thrilled that I was given the opportunity to manage Manchester United.

"I'm incredibly privileged I was given the opportunity and grateful to Sir Alex and the board for making it happen. My job is to continue the success at this club. This club is about winning trophies. I'm hungry to do it, I'm driven to succeed. It won't change me, though. I'm determined to get the first [trophy] on the board.

"I'm inexperienced in a lot of areas and there are some brilliant managers who could have taken this role. But the biggest confidence I take into it is Sir Alex Ferguson telling me that I was the next Manchester United manager."

With Jose Mourinho returning to Chelsea and Manuel Pellegrini taking over at Manchester City, it means the top three from last season's Premier League will all begin the new campaign with new managers.

And for Moyes, it just adds to the intrigue of the new season.

"I am really pleased to see Jose back," he said. "Everyone will enjoy having him back in the Premier League.

"I have come across Pellegrini a couple of times. It will be new to him as well. There will be a lot of things unknown and it is exciting."